Sunday, March 26, 2017

Addiction to cell phones: are there neurophysiological mechanisms involved?

Addiction to cell phones: are there
neurophysiological mechanisms involved?

Maria Paz de la Puente1
, Afonso Balmori
Published in Proyecto, Vol. 61: pp. 8-12, March 2007
At first glance we could consider the addiction to cell phones as belonging to those addictions that
are substance-free, also called psychological addictions. Yet, unlike these, cell phones emit
microwaves that reach the brain, making investigators wonder if there could be a physiological
base for such addictions.
The following article gives a brief overview of the studies made that analyze the effects that these
radiation produce and that bring us closer to the possible addictive effect, similar to those
provoked by conventional drugs. In them, the authors dare to sound the alarm of the abuse that
young people, whose brains are still in the process of maturing, could be prey to the risks derived
from their improper use, and consider that there should be specific education of the responsible use of
cell phones.